Man arrested in death of horse shot by an arrow

On 04-23-13, approximately 12:00 noon the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Livestock Deputy arrested Joshua Matthew Slater, 31 years old, a transient, for felony animal cruelty. The deputy had been actively working on this investigation since the day it occurred. The deputy was assisted by witnesses who told the deputy about an adult male living in a motor home near the scene where the horse was killed. The witnesses gave the deputy a description of the male and said they had seen him carrying a crossbow. They also provided the deputy with a possible name of Joshua Slater. The deputy searched the area for the motor home the day of the crime, but it was gone.

After recovering the arrow and bolt that was used to kill "Cash" the horse, the deputy contacted area sporting good stores. The deputy learned that one of the stores sold arrows to a male that matched the description of the one witness's provided to the livestock deputy that had been living in the motorhome. The deputy was able to confirm with the sporting goods store that the male who bought the arrows was Joshua Matthew Slater.

On 04-22-2013, the livestock deputy and a Sheriff's Detective located Slater and interviewed him about the death of the horse. Slater admitted to being in the area at the time of "Cash" being shot with an arrow, and shooting arrows from a compound bow while he was poaching deer. Slater agreed to show the deputy where he was shooting the arrows.

On 04-23-2013, approximately 9:00 a.m. the livestock deputy and members of the Humboldt County District Attorneys Office drove Slater back out to the scene where he agreed to show them where he was shooting the compound bow. Based upon his statements and re-enactment he was arrested for felony animal cruelty. He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on one county of felony animal cruelty a felony. His bail is set at $25,000.00.